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NP-SL Ltd Takes the Lead in Efficient Customer Care Delivery

By Amin Kef Sesay

It is strongly an incontestable fact that the leading petroleum company in the country, the National Petroleum- Sierra Leone Limited is highly known for taking customer care to the highest pedestal in the country. Indeed such is indisputable when cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen in optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that result into a win-win situation. For this brilliant and managerial initiative the company has been making positive headways positioning to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

With a capable and result-oriented ‘Team NP’, working collaboratively and assiduously, where even the cleaner is regarded as highly relevant there is bound to be positive outcomes and the company has mastered this by ensuring that synergy is enhanced.
One admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd possesses is working tirelessly and effectively using its contacts with oil producing countries in order to ensure that there is timely purchase and delivery of petroleum products to avoid shortages.

It goes without saying that fuel, for example, could be a political commodity in the sense that fluctuation in its price would make a Government likeable or unpopular. When the price goes up then people blame the Government for that but if it goes down it is kudos for the political administration.

Its timely importation of petroleum products has earned NP high commendations from various quarters simply because it helps to cushion unrest and other forms of disadvantageous effects one of which is increase in transport fares, increase in the prices of certain commodities. The pro-activeness of the company invariably has a direct impact on poverty reduction in variable ways.

Some who may not be aware of the fact that NP-SL Ltd is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans vis-à-vis the visibility of the company and how it is remarkably striving could find it hard to believe that it a truly indigenous company.

However, that remains the plain truth when it is learnt that it was Sierra Leonean 35 workers formerly working for British Petroleum (BP) who pulled together their end of service benefits to purchase shares which were used to establish NP, which today is a success story of an indigenous company, having branches in various parts of the country and in other four West African countries namely Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The company’s operations right across the spectrum is contributing towards revenue generation and job creation for many.

With gas as one its marketable products it was thought wise to be producing gas cookers, popularly known as NP Gas, which could be access at their different filling stations. According to investigation conducted NP Gas is cooking-friendly, safe and long lasting. It is going at an affordable price and many are going for it.

When reference is made to Local Content, which by law is a Policy, then NP-SL Ltd stands tall within that realm as nearly all its members of staff are Sierra Leoneans thereby making use of local talents everywhere they are operating. The Local Content Policy is indeed an engine of growth and NP is making full use of it.
Without any iota of doubt NP-SL Ltd is growing taller and taller as time goes by.

If Elected Western Area Regional Chair…   David Patrick Cole Pledges Unification of SLPP

By Amin Kef Sesay

David Patrick Cole is an astute and dynamic engineer, who has shown keen interest in contesting for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), maintaining that if elected into that position he will ensure that the SLPP pull more votes in the Western Area.

Core supporters of the SLPP intimated this medium that among all those who have expressed interest to run for that position he is the fittest and therefore said they will do all they can to convince the delegates who will be eligible to vote to throw their weight behind him as he has all the wherewithal to give the SLPP a landslide victory if given the opportunity and do more for the party thereafter.

Have a feel of who is Engineer Patrick David Cole:

Patrick David Cole is a born Freetonian with humble beginnings at Leicester Village in the Mountain Rural District, with his father, Mr. Cole, and mother, Mrs. Victoria Cole.

He attended a public primary school in Gloucester, and later proceeded to the Albert Academy (AA) in Freetown. He later moved to Fourah Bay College, emerging with a First Class degree in Civil Engineering, and later gained his Masters Degree respectively. Ing Patrick David Cole is a Professional Civil Engineer with several professional and international Certificates.

Ing Patrick David Cole is a household name within the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), with a proven track record geared towards being the fittest for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman. He has the political and technocratic experience to mobilize support bases of both young and old to raise the profile of the SLPP party within the Western Area.

He has innate potentials, coupled with available human resource capacities, to put the Western Area under the control of the SLPP Party.

This, he has demonstrated in his proven ability of empowering ordinary people to become champions of their communities, instead of hand-out victims of circumstances.

He joined the Sierra Leone People’s  Party (SLPP) in 1997  and has served in different capacities with over 22 years’ experience in National Politics to positively influence support for the SLPP Party within the Western Area.

Ing Patrick David Cole contested in the Parliamentary Elections in 2007 within Consistency 092 and did remarkably well, though he narrowly lost the elections.

Mrs. Victoria Cole, mother of Ing Patrick Cole, served the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP) as Constituency 092 Chairlady from 1996 to 2008. During her tenure of service, she contributed immensely towards the elections in 1997, 2002, and 2007 subsequently. However Ing Patrick Cole also helped to establish the SLPP foot prints in the Western Mountain District and spent personal resources to promote a strong foundation for the SLPP.

He has helped to create employment for over 200 youths, as the MD of CL Group LTD, in a bid to advance the job creation vision of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction.

Ing Patrick Cole has been working assiduously to train young people within the Western Area Region in-readiness for employment.

He has worked as a Consultant for Plan International Sierra Leone, UNFPA, and several other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. He has worked and implemented several projects.

Ing Patrick Cole has attained high national & international accolades in project development and project management.

In his capacity as Young Generation Leader in Constituency 092 at the time, he promoted the interests of young people in the Western Mountain District.

As MD of CL GROUP LTD, he designed and constructed the Kerry Town Ebola Treatment Center, designed the King Harman Road and Rokupa Government Hospital and the Kenema School of Midwifery.

Ing Patrick Cole is by no doubt the right man for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman. He is an extrovert whose brilliance can be beneficial to all residents of Freetown and beyond.

Ing Patrick Cole is extremely energetic, outspoken and has the capability of coordinating people in the Western Area, under difficult and challenging circumstances, to produce quality results during opposition and in governance.

He is a God-fearing man, and above all, loves all people, regardless of their various regional, political and religious proclivities.

Patrick is calling on all regional delegates within the Western Area to vote diligently or wisely for him in the upcoming Regional Executive Elections as the Western Area Regional Chairman.

Sierra Leone @ 60… President Bio Calls For Reflection

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a nationwide broadcast on the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence on the 27th April 2021, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio admonished Sierra Leoneans to reflect on all that had happened to the country since independence and see how they can contribute positively towards the development of the country.

 As the country commemorates its 60th independence anniversary, several Heads of State from the Gambia, President Adama Barrow, Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo, Guinea, Professor Alpha Conde, Liberia, President George O Weah, Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister, Nuno Gomes Nabian, jetted in to support the people of Sierra Leone as they celebrate six decades of Excellence, Resilience, Unity and Freedom.

In his address to the nation marking the 60th anniversary celebration of the country’s independence, President Bio said that as the country commemorates its sixty years of independence from British colonial rule, it is but fitting that Sierra Leoneans do a reflection “on the vision, great sacrifice, and courage of those who led, those who helped them lead, and those who embraced their leadership to usher in our sovereignty as an independent nation in the Commonwealth.”

He recalled the words of the First Prime Minister of the country, Sir Milton Margai, on the first independence day, where he “admonished citizens of the newly independent Sierra Leone to “face up squarely to the problems which will confront” Sierra Leoneans. He urged commitment to “wholehearted service and hard work” in order to “make our country a land worth living in, a land worth serving.”

Sir Milton Margai, President Bio went on, called on Sierra Leoneans to “deal fairly and honestly” with their fellow men, “strive actively for peace, friendship, and unity,” and to discourage lawlessness.

He stressed that in the past 60 years, “we have learned to live together as a nation. We are a global model for religious tolerance. We intermarry and cohabit peacefully in our towns and villages.”

His Excellency also recalled the numerous coups and repressive single-party dictatorships that have characterised the past, adding that amidst all these, Sierra Leone has been able to “consolidated one of the sturdiest multiparty democracies in Africa,” furthering that with a bloody civil war that lasted for a decade, Sierra Leoneans have been able to come out of it with resilience and peace has prevailed for over two decades since.

Buttressing the resilience of fellow Sierra Leoneans, His Excellency recalled the natural disasters and pestilence that have led to the near collapse of the country’s economy, including mismanagement of its natural resources and degradation of the environment, corruption and bad governance, the lack of justice and equal access to opportunity, especially for women and youths, “we have emerged stronger, tougher, and more resilient every time.”

He furthered that those events had made the nation strong, as citizens and the government have learnt lessons from those events.

“This 60th commemoration of our country’s independence is therefore a watershed moment in our nation’s history. We must use it to reflect on the past only as it helps us avoid the worst of the past and work diligently for a shared future of peace and prosperity that our nation truly deserves,” President Bio admonished.

His Excellency called for collective action to build a better and stronger nation, of which the medium-term national development plan of his government will form the back bone, backed by the a more accurate population data, through the housing census to enable the allocation of resources to priority areas that will support sustainable national development.

President Bio furthered that his government’s economic policies had resulted in development partners’ re-engagement. These policies had led to the lowering of inflation and an increase in the country’s reserve, in spite of the impact of COVID-19.

He disclosed that the country has made great progress in the ease of doing business indicators and areas of growth like agriculture, mining, fishing, and tourism are being prioritised. He furthered that new players in the mining sector are coming in, which indicates renewed confidence in the sectors.

“The regeneration of artisanal and industrial fishing and fish processing, and millions of dollars of investment in new agricultural projects indicate renewed confidence in these sectors.

Speaking on the progress made in the tourism sector, President Bio maintained that despite the negative impact of COVID on countries across the world, Sierra Leone’s international profile in that sector had appreciated

“No doubt, Sierra Leone is still a diamond in the rough. Ours is a peaceful and alluring slice of God’s earth where history and nature conjoin to offer some of the most stunning tourism products. In spite of COVID, the international profile of Sierra Leone as a tourism destination has improved over the last three years. More African American brothers and sisters are proudly reclaiming their heritage and with them comes the promise of new expertise and entrepreneurship,” HE maintained.

President Bio encouraged Sierra Leoneans to be responsible citizens and embrace each other as the nation stands to gain everything from it. “It is the future we want; it is the future we will build together”.

“So let me once again congratulate all of us as we commemorate this 60th anniversary of our independence. Let us each resolve to contribute to building our shared future. May God/ Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala bless our endeavours and guide us in this Holy Month of Ramadan” he concluded.

Boosting Free Quality Education Initiative… AATF & Pikin Bizness Support 24 Schools With 700 Radios

By Amin Kef Sesay

24 selected schools across the country became the first beneficiaries from the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund & Pikin Bizness donation, as they received 700 Radios at a low key but auspicious ceremony held on Monday 26th April, 2021 at the St. Edwards Secondary School, Kingtom in Freetown, during the launch of the ‘One Student One Radio’ campaign.

Speaking during the event, Chairman of Pikin Bizness and Adonis Abboud Trust Fund, Dr. Adonis Abboud, said that the move by the organization is a way of complementing Government’s Free Quality Education initiative and the provision of the 700 Radios to various schools is geared towards allowing pupils to stay abreast with national as well as international events and other news, which will eventually boost their general knowledge.

He maintained that the first of a total of 24 selected schools nationwide will benefit from the gesture, adding that their ultimate goal is for all pupils to own such useful communication gadgets, furthering that he is of the conviction that other donors will emulate their gesture and help reach more pupils.

Deputy Project Coordinator, while addressing the recipients, requested that on a monthly basis each should submit few lines outlining the benefits acquired. Each student received a Pikin Bizness COVID-19 Mask and a radio.

A beneficiary, Ibrahim Conteh, a pupil of the St. Edwards Secondary School, expressed gratitude to the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund & Pikin Bizness for the kind gesture, describing such as not only important, but a very timely intervention.

He noted that some of them were unable to benefit from the Government Radio Teaching program, which was instituted by the Government with technical support from UNFPA as a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to the closure of schools, because of the unavailability of radios, but the donated radios will help them greatly.

Dr. Adonis Abboud also used the opportunity to speak on the 60th Anniversary, adding that as the Sierra Leone flag flies in the wind to celebrate another independence anniversary it is indeed an auspicious time to reflect and remind ourselves that freedom is priceless. He added that this diamond jubilee becomes even more significant, when one recollects that thirty years ago Sierra Leone was in the abyss and in the throes of a brutal war that threatened its very existence, adding that the State is on the cusp of a different trajectory towards the realization of the dreams of its founding fathers and the hopes and aspirations of Sierra Leoneans.

“Amidst the celebration, we salute all our heroes past and present, who through blood, tears and prayers, have ensured that despite our diversity, we continue to strive in unity. Indeed, this special celebration is an amazing opportunity to remind ourselves of our collective responsibility to value our nation and work towards building a future, full of patriotic love. We’ve had enough of divisive tendencies. It’s now time for a better Sierra Leone. I join you in doffing my hat to Sierra Leone at 60” he concluded.

PARHA Appeals to Govt. to Enact Safe Motherhood Bill

Chairman of People’s Alliance for Reproductive Health Advocacy (PARHA), Fodie Paul O. Kamara

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their stride in ensuring competent and adequate human resources, appropriate physical infrastructure and internal systems capable of delivering and promoting adequate and equitable sexual and reproductive health services in the country, the Chairman of People’s Alliance for Reproductive Health Advocacy (PARHA), Fodie Paul O. Kamara, has appealed to the Government of Sierra Leone to, ‘Enact the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill.’ He made this humble appeal to the Government during a virtual meeting on global dialogue on abortion.

Underscoring PARHA’s approach to addressing the Enactment of the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill, Fodie Paul O. Kamara noted that partnership building and collaboration  are very key and that is why the membership of PARHA is of the view that Policy Advocacy cannot be undertaken and accomplished by a single individual or entity, the sole reason for coalescing and therefore constituting a nationwide membership, comprising among NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Community Based groups (CBGs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and individuals working around SRHRs.

Fodie added that as a unified body the issues are discussed, possible solutions proffered and activities jointly undertaken.

He furthered that community engagement is key in the advocacy drive of the PARHA Coalition, where burning issues are extensively discussed, recommendations proffered and decisions taken on the next steps to address  issues, adding that stakeholders’ engagement is another means through which SRHR issues are addressed by the PARHA Coalition ,of which he said that prior to the engagements the Coalition undertook a stakeholders’ mapping exercise to identify and classify the potential allies and opposition.

The Chairman noted that in December 2015, the Parliament of Sierra Leone unanimously passed a Safe Abortion Bill 2015 and sent it to the Office of then HE President Ernest Bai Koroma for his assent, and that immediately the Bill reached State House, the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (which is composed of Christian and Muslim leaders, being the most prominent religious civil society organization) raised an objection to the signing of the Bill by the President, adding that in response to IRCSL’s opposition, the President refused to sign the Bill and then sent it back to Parliament with a Memo, dated February 19, 2016, containing the following points to note: the context of the Right to Life, the absence of the functional definition of the term “abortion”, Convoluted definition of “medical practitioner”, Inadequate availability of specialized service, laboratories and inadequate stakeholder consultations.

He continued that between March to December 2016, MSSL, IPAS and PPASL engaged the 149 Paramount Chiefs in three Regional Level consultations in Makeni, Kenema and Bo to garner their buy-in on the SA Bill, stating that in April 2018, at a general meeting, PARHA conducted an environmental scanning around the journey of the SA Bill through Parliament till it was rejected by HE the President.

“In consideration of the findings from the scanning process, the membership thought it fit to engage and collaborate with relevant State Institutions and Professional Bodies, to take forward the campaign on their respective thematic issues. The coalition then, on January 30, 2019, engaged the National Executive of the IRCSL and both parties reached an agreement developing a Terms of Reference (TOR) to establish a Joint Advocacy Working Group (JAWG),” Fodie Paul O. Kamara maintained.

He revealed that the coalition is trying to have a Bill that will be titled ‘Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Law’, which is comprehensive around sexual reproductive health and rights including; family planning, sexually transmitted infection, community parenting, comprehensive sexuality education and a host of issues surrounding sexual reproductive cases.

The Chairman further added that they have done stakeholders consultation and that they have been working with the Reproductive and Child Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, established a Technical Working Group Committee working around the proposed Bill, done a Cabinet Paper which is presently at the table of the current Minister of Health for tabling of that cabinet paper for approval of the said Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Law.

As Judge Orders Refund Of Monies Paid So Far… Appeals Court Exonerates Musa Tarawally

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Monday, 26th April, 2021, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Hon. Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay (JA), ordered with immediate effect the refund of monies paid so far in respect of the findings and recommendations of the COI against the former Minister of Lands, Alhaji Musa Tarawally and Baba Brima Fortune, former Permanent Secretary in the Lands Ministry, during the Appeals hearings filed by the affected parties. The Court also ordered, with immediate effect, the arrest of Umaru A. Conteh and Mami Koroma, former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The Appellants; Alhaji Musa Tawarally, former Lands Minister and Baba Brima Fortune, former Permanent Secretary in the Lands Ministry, Umaru Conteh, Mami Koroma (both having served as former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology); separately filed Appeals following the launch of the Government’s Whitepaper challenging the findings and recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry, which was presided over by three empanelled Justices-Hon. Ansumana Ivan Sesay (JA), Momoh Jah Stevens (JA) and Hon. Adrian J. Fisher (J).

After listening to the arguments put forward by lawyers of the Appellants, the Judges upheld the findings and recommendations of the Judge-led Commissions of Inquiry against Umaru Conteh, Mami Koroma and ordered that both be arrested and that the Appellants bear the cost of the appeal summarily assessed at Le50,000,000 to be paid forthwith. Whereas in the case of Alhaji Musa Tawarally and Baba Brima Fortune, the court maintained that the Commission’s findings against them were not justifiable in the light of the evidence before it, for which their appeals were both allowed, and the findings, including those referred to as adverse and claims, allowed.

Arguing his grounds of Appeal, Lawyer Ady Macualey, who represented the Appellant, Umaru A. Conteh, told the court that the sole Commissioner erred in Law in making adverse findings and recommendations against his client who didn’t fall within the scope of the subject matter mandate.

He further argued that the sole Commissioner violated the principle of natural justice in that he failed to accord his client the opportunity to be heard, adding that the findings and recommendations of the sole Commissioner against the Ministry in respect of his client are against the weight of the evidence before the court.

State Counsel representing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Robert Kowa, had argued that the Appellant didn’t fall within the scope of the Commission, but within its terms of reference and also had no adverse effects against him, which gave him the legal basis to appeal.

He went on to argue that there was sufficient evidence before the Sole Commissioner that enabled him to ascertain that the Appellant was a collaborator.

With similar arguments being made for Mani Koroma, the Court held that the findings of the Sole Commissioner in relation to both Appellants are hereby upheld and that all adverse findings and recommendations against them by the Sole Commissioner and the whitepaper were upheld.

Refusing the Commission’s recommendation that the Appellants are barred from holding  Public offices, the Court further ordered that “pursuant to the provisions of Section 78 (1)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, we are of the opinion that the findings of the Sole Commissioner, which have been upheld by this Court, disclose acts that may constitute offences under the ACC Act 2008 as amended, and we hereby order the Undersheriff to arrest the Appellant forthwith for onward transmission to the ACC,’’ and referred the findings and exhibits of the Sole Commissioner with respect of the Appellants for investigations.

The Court ruled that the Appellants bear the cost of the appeal, summarily assessed at Le50, 000,000, to be paid forthwith.

Ahmed Kamara Declared Wanted For Practicing Gay

Ahmed Kamara.jpg
Ahmed Kamara

By Alpha Sesay

The increasing reports of isolated physical attacks on persons found to be gay seem to have no end in sight as the recent case of Ahmed Kamara indicates.

News intimated this medium revealed that in Bamoi Luma, Kambia District Northern Province of Sierra Leone, stakeholders and youths of that District have mounted a round the clock search for Ahmed Kamara who is now declared wanted.

According to a resident of Bamoi who identified herself as Amie Kamara an Aunty of Ahmed Kamara said the latter had been very secretive about his sexual orientation since he met with Abdul Akim Ahmed a Nigerian businessman that imports various items and also owns a warehouse at Lumley Street, Freetown where Ahmed was also doing business; and who Ahmed Kamara was dating with and that were caught red-handed having sex in a guest house in Bamoi.

According to an in-depth investigation mounted by this medium, Ahmed hails from an Islamic background and was living in Freetown with his family regularly praying at the Temne Central Mosque, Old field Street, presided over by the late Sheik Alhaji Ibrahim Kamara who was the father of Ahmed Kamara and the then Chief Imam of the Temne Central Mosque.

According to a family source, Ahmed was doing business in Freetown where possibly he could have met with Abdul Akim Ahmed who befriended him. Ahmed was believed to have been accompanying him in some business dealings and it was during that time the businessman introduced him into homo sexual lifestyle.

It was also learnt that after the death of Ahmed’s father, Ahmed together with his family at some point decided to go to Bamoi, Kambia District, with some high profile Islamic leaders, mosque members, family members, some senior government officials and community members to go and perform charity and reading of the Holy Quran for his late father that was well known amongst the Islamic community in Freetown and the country at large.

Abdul Akim Ahmed decided not only to support Ahmed financially but to also accompany him to Bamoi as his lover. After the charity and the reading of the Holy Quran which was held on the 24th April, 2021, Ahmed went to the guest house where he was resided with his partner and passed off the night. On the 25th of April 2021, around 9:00 PM, Aunty Amie Kamara who got a tip-off concerning the love affairs that was existing between Ahmed and his male counterpart from some family members spontaneously rushed to the guest house where the two  resided. It was also learnt that Aunty Amie who caught Ahmed and his partner red-handed having sexual intercourse was accused of leading an angry mob to teach Ahmed a caustic lesson with a view to send the message to other people that such an activity is not tolerated in their family.

While all this was going on, Ahmed sneaked through the window and went into the near bushes and escaped for his life. He was chased by the angry youths but they couldn’t found him.

Ahmed Kamara who hails from an Islamic background was not expected to practice this act especially as his father Sheik Alhaji Ibrahim Kamara was the Chief Imam of the Temne Central Mosque old field Street, Freetown.

Both national and Islamic laws totally forbid individuals from practicing such act. Community stakeholders and youth members were completely disappointed at Ahmed’s action which they noted goes contrary to their customs and traditions vowing that Ahmed must be dealt with accordingly.

According to a community stakeholder the intention of Ahmed Kamara’s family is to eliminate him because he has not only embarrassed and disgraced them but has also flouted the customs and traditions of the land and going against what the family believes in and as such was described as the black sheep of the family.

A senior police officer attached to the Kambia District Police Station Chief Superintendent Abdul Conteh told this medium that on the 25th April, 2021 at around 9: 00 PM, Ahmed Kamara was caught by a family member having a sexual affair with one Abdul Akim Ahmed. CSP Conteh said his family decided to take the law into their hands together with other community residents by physically and violently attacking Ahmed Kamara at a guest house in Bamoi but narrowly escaped.

It was also understood that this same group of irate youths stormed the entire bushes in search of Ahmed Kamara based on an intelligence they purportedly received that he was saw in the bush begging some farmers to shelter him which in actual fact turned out to be false.

Family sources informed this medium that after that unfortunate incident Ahmed escaped to an unknown destination and since then his whereabouts has remained unknown.

Free Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Surgery to Commence in May 2021

Group photo

By Abdul Kanu

On the 24th April 2021, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through the Tonkolili District Health Management Team, with support from an international charitable children’s organisation known as Smile Train, launched a nationwide awareness raising campaign to identify and conduct free surgery on children and adults suffering from Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate disorders in Tonkolili District.

The launch of the campaign, which took place at the Stino After Works Complex in Magburaka, attracted health care staff and community stakeholders drawn from various communities within the Tonkolili District.

Speaking during the awareness raising meeting, the District Medical Officer of Tonkolili District, Dr. Abdul Mac Falama, described Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate as a kind of disorder of the lip and palate that is mostly caused by some kind of genetic pre disposition and environmental factors but are not hereditary or caused by witchcraft or evil spirit.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Health’s engagements with the health care staff and community stakeholders is to ensure that information about  the free Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate surgery on mostly children affected by such condition, is spread across Tonkolili District so that members of the wider community can help to identify and refer such people to the nearest health facility from where they will be screened and referred to either the Holy Spirit Hospital in Makeni or the Bo Government Hospital for free surgery to be done.

Dr. Abdul Mac Falama noted that Smile Train will provide all the necessary support to ensure that a successful surgery is conducted on the patient including the provision of motivational package in the form of cash to anyone who identifies and refers a patient suffering from Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate as a form of compensation for the effort.

The District Social Mobilization Officer of the Tonkolili District Health Management Team, Mohamed A Jalloh, encouraged the health care workers and the community stakeholders to spread the message in their respective communities about the free surgery of people suffering from Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate which is expected to be conducted sometime in May 2021 after the identification and screening of patients.

Some of the community stakeholders engaged including Bishop Joseph Y. Koroma, Chairman of the Tonkolili Church Ministers Council and Abdul Majid Kamara, Secretary to the Tonkolili Board of Imams pledged to in turn engage their respective memberships on the issue as part of their contributions to the nationwide awareness raising campaign on the free surgery of persons affected by Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.

Section Chief of the Old Town Section in the Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom, Tonkolili District, Pa Amadu Larkoh said as community stakeholders, they will support the Tonkolili District Health Management Team and Smile Train to identify people suffering from Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate in their communities and refer them to the nearest health facility for screening so that they will be able to benefit from the free surgery that is being supported by the international charitable children’s organisation, Smile Train.

The session ended with series of commendations for Smile Train International which is working with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation through the Tonkolili District Health Management and the Ministries of Health in other West African countries to put smile on the faces of children and adults suffering from Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.

Section Chief

Mohamed A Jalloh, District Social Mobilization Coordinator Tonkolili District Health Management Team.

SLRSA Boss & Team Learn from Colleagues in Nigeria

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The Executive Director of Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Ibrahim Sannoh and his team, are currently in Abuja, Nigeria on a week- long working visit to the Federal Road Safety Commission of Nigeria to strengthen RSA’s bilateral relationship with the Nigerian Road Safety Commission.

The SLRSA Executive Director will hold a strategic engagement with the Head of the Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria on possible collaboration on capacity building ahead of planned  reforms bordering on commencement of the production of biometric Driver’s License with a National Identification Number (NIN) from the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA); Change Request and Data Integrity, Command and Control in Administration of Drivers’ License Centres, Curbing Drivers’ License Centre’s Information through Biometric Investigations among others.

Ibrahim Sannoh will also pay courtesy call on the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria and their line Ministry of Works and Housing.

His visit will be climaxed with a conducted tour of the FRSC Academy in Abuja, Nigeria, License and Road Signage, Printing Room and a host of other facilities of the FRSC.

The SLRSA Executive Director is accompanied by the Director of License, Hassanatu J. Mansaray, Management Information System Analyst, Glen Cole, Safety and Enforcement Director Augustine Kaitongi and Ambrose Tucker, Research Manager SLRSA.

Sierra Leone Meets MCC Eligibility

By Amin Kef Sesay

“We are lucky that as a country we are able to meet the threshold of MCC compact eligibility but more needs to be done.” These were the words of the Minister of Environment, Prof. Foday M. Jaward while addressing the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU). He added that with Government’s commitment, Sierra Leone could accomplish the ultimate goal of the NRPI

Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU) Executive Officer Ndeye Koroma and team have stated that Sierra Leone has made a shifting goal below 64% of the medium term scorecard at 54.5% on the National Resource Protection Indicator (NRPI). She made this disclosure during bilateral discussions with the Minister of Environment, Prof. Foday M. Jaward and representatives from different supervising Agencies at the conference room of the Ministry of Works.

She noted that the purpose of the bilateral discussions is to devise a strategy to improve the performance on the NRPI of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard. Whilst explaining the specific methodology MCCU used to calculate vital information relating to the NRPI, she noted that the scorecard is used by MCCU to inform the country on its performance against other countries in its income category.

Ndeye Koroma maintained that the annual scorecard is made of three categories notably, Economic Freedom, Ruling Justly and Investing in People. She noted that NRPI medium scorecard is 64% which is calculated by Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), a third party from Columbia University in the United States.

She further said that this third party develops all indicators on an annual basis for countries around the world. In this regard, she stated that Sierra Leone made improvement over the years but called on Government to make more improvement so that it could meet the 64%.

She intimated that MCCU is planning to review the indicator on NRPI in detail to ascertain the gaps in the data and where there are areas that need protection. She said that upon completion of the review, MCCU will make it known to CIESIN for its assessment to further consider it as part of NRPI overall scorecard in order to improve Sierra Leone’s performance.

Conclusively, she confirmed that there are three specific areas that are being protected in Sierra Leone notably, tropical and sub- tropical most precisely in the South-East, tropical and sub-tropical grass land, savanna and shroud, and the mangroves in the Western Region. She encouraged all stakeholders to work assiduously in order to improve Sierra Leone’s performance on the NRPI medium scorecard.

Meanwhile, Prof. Foday M. Jaward intimated that the MCCU scorecard is critical for the Government of Sierra Leone including stakeholders to plan and discuss the modalities of passing NRPI of MCC.

Prof. Jaward noted that the Presidency of Julius Maada Bio is passionate to see Sierra Leone pass the scorecard. He encouraged all stakeholders to show strong commitments to meeting the 64% scorecard of MCC.

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